DCS: Kola Discussion

[Northstar98]

Here's an unlisted (EDIT: It's now been privated ) teaser found in the DCS playlist on Orbx's YouTube channel:

Unfortunately the trailer is a little light when it comes to showing us the map. Some shots though do look a little rough (though personally I'll take accuracy over texture resolution), with textures that maybe look a bit generic-looking, though this is a common issue with DCS maps - none of them really look all that photo-realistic or particularly natural-looking.

The trees around the HAWK site at Bodø look like they'll interfere with the launchers somewhat:

Also looks like the AN/FPS-129 HAVE STARE is the generic radome to be used across the map. As I've said before - not a fan of purely decorative radars at all, these should (well, maybe not these exact ones) be functional units.

Edited April 28, 2024 by Northstar98

[Razorback]

For me, this teasing has zero interest.
It makes you wonder if this isn't a teaser for the F-18 rather than for a map.
I think that if ORBX's aim is to convince future buyers, they'll have to show something else...
I'm in charge of a 40 members helicopter squadron and at the moment we're far from convinced...
ORBX mentioned that there are certain limitations due to the current DCS graphics engine (there's no doubt some truth in that) but the Afghanistan map, for example, showed low-altitude screenshots that were much more convincing than what we've seen on Kola at the moment.
We're hoping for a real map that could compete with or replace the Caucasus map, but at the moment I have major doubts... for a brand new product compared with the oldest DCS map.
I sincerely hope I'm wrong and that I'll be pleasantly surprised when the map comes out.
In any case, I'll wait for the first feedback from users before confirming my purchase...

 

Edited April 28, 2024 by Razorback

[Beirut]

ORBX is the 800lb gorilla of flightsim add-terrain. Will be very interesting to see the fine details.

[Raisuli]

On 4/27/2024 at 7:24 PM, zerO_crash said:

The Pacific Fleet

This is the nuclear subpen at Petro Pavlovsk, and served as a base for the Russian Pacific Fleet. There is now plenty of material available on the this base, as it is abandoned.

 

 

There are two parallel tunnels in this base. Both, connected by passages. The bigger tunnel (#1 on the schematic) is the one filled with water. It measurs 450m length according to the information in the facility. GPS measurement, places it at 650m length, however. The width is 19m and height 10m - 12m. The second tunnel (#2 on the schematic), is really a huge hall that measures 225m length, supported by width of 8m and height 10m - 12m. As can be seen from the second picture, there are three entrances from the west to the main tunnel (#1), each approximately 200m long. There is also the main entrance from the bay, south. In total, there's 8 entrances/exits. 
 

 

 

I was 12 *cough* miles away from Petropavlovsk in the mid 80s.  Went from Pearl to Kamchatka in about two weeks, and hit 48' seas on the way.  July 4th the windchill was about -20C, broke the -40, broke 2 plant, had a P-3 from Adak bring out spare parts, then spent the next thirty minutes or so in a race with the Soviets to find the parts they dropped for us because they sucked at it.  Lots of good stories from that cruise, some I probably shouldn't mention...

Fun summer.  Wish we could have pulled into port for a visit, though; the landscape was pretty awesome!

[zerO_crash]

1 hour ago, Raisuli said:

I was 12 *cough* miles away from Petropavlovsk in the mid 80s.  Went from Pearl to Kamchatka in about two weeks, and hit 48' seas on the way.  July 4th the windchill was about -20C, broke the -40, broke 2 plant, had a P-3 from Adak bring out spare parts, then spent the next thirty minutes or so in a race with the Soviets to find the parts they dropped for us because they sucked at it.  Lots of good stories from that cruise, some I probably shouldn't mention...

Fun summer.  Wish we could have pulled into port for a visit, though; the landscape was pretty awesome!

Hah, now that is something. Guess the P-3 crew must have gotten a blue ribbon for their performance... Which type of sub did you serve on, if you don't mind me asking?

 

A funny fact; the famous K-19 submarine (Hotel I) was repaired at Polar. Sad to say, it was a complete disaster. I read a memo from a higher-tier officer that confirmed the repair team in the dock got irradiated to death while working on it. He could only speak about it after the fall of USSR. Last I heard, one of the original crew members on K-19 bought it repaired and somewhat refurbished (he is a businessman now), and made it into his floating asylum (upgraded to Hotel II-class). One would think that the Bermuda triangle is about the most interesting the sea has to offer... Crazy stuff. It was even worse with the crew who participated in the reactor accident. I'd have to look it up again to be sure, but I seem to remember that the most irradiated sailor recieved some approximately 5500 rems (55 - 56 sieverts). For comparison, the rooftop on Chernobyl NPP had 10-12k rems after the accident in 1986. He worked in half the exposure for some hours, not 1 - 2 minutes. Complete madness.
 

Absolutely, it's really beatiful. Very unique nature as well. The only problem is, there is a fair bit of contamination in the sea from rusting ships, nuclear leakage accidents daring back to 50s, and generally the Chinese diesels. That's what I hear at least. I admit, sea isn't my main domain though.

Edited April 29, 2024 by zerO_crash

[Raisuli]

24 minutes ago, zerO_crash said:

Hah, now that is something. Guess the P-3 crew must have gotten a blue ribbon for their performance... Which type of sub did you serve on, if you don't mind me asking?

 

A funny fact; the famous K-19 submarine (Hotel I) was repaired at Polar. Sad to say, it was a complete disaster. I read a memo from a higher-tier officer that confirmed the repair team in the dock got irradiated to death while working on it. He could only speak about it after the fall of USSR. Last I heard, one of the original crew members on K-19 bought it repaired and somewhat refurbished (he is a businessman now), and made it into his floating asylum (upgraded to Hotel II-class). One would think that the Bermuda triangle is about the most interesting the sea has to offer... Crazy stuff. It was even worse with the crew who participated in the reactor accident. I'd have to look it up again to be sure, but I seem to remember that the most irradiated sailor recieved some approximately 5500 rems (55 - 56 sieverts). For comparison, the rooftop on Chernobyl NPP had 10-12k rems after the accident in 1986. He worked in half the exposure for some hours, not 1 - 2 minutes. Complete madness.
 

Absolutely, it's really beatiful. Very unique nature as well. The only problem is, there is a fair bit of contamination in the sea from rusting ships, nuclear leakage accidents daring back to 50s, and generally the Chinese diesels. That's what I hear at least. I admit, sea isn't my main domain though.

 

<WAY off topic>

That summer I was on a glorified frigate, but I did prototype at S3G, which represented the only US submarine with a two plant. 

Yeah.  Chernobyl.  I have a story about that one that might be better left untold on these boards.  I still have a (thermal paper) copy of the TMI transients and timeline.  If they had actually known what they were doing they could not possibly have made worse decisions at exactly the wrong time.  Hindsight is perfect, and TMI has more than one meaning.

Of all the nuke boats I've been on only one is more than an entry in the Trench 94 Walk down History Lane, and that's CVN-70.  Oh, I guess CVN-65 hasn't been cut up yet, but I'll bet her reactor compartments end up in trench 94 some day as well.  That poor thing had been de-rated so many times I was a little surprised it could still get the lights lit.

</>

There (used to be) any number of rusting hulks in fjords northwest of Murmansk.  Bellona did a report (have that too) about the disaster that was the Soviet Nuclear Navy up north.  Of COURSE that's the first thing I'm going to check out, even if they didn't model the mess...

[YoYo]

Some1 put on short video of Kola map (but now its a priv.)

https://youtu.be/x5IRplPA9jU?si=c9hZARos9IeIhXqR

[Northstar98]

Stormbirds managed to save a few screenshots: https://stormbirds.blog/2024/04/28/thirty-seconds-of-dcs-kola/

Though the now private video didn't really show us a whole lot.

[GeorgeVB]

Korean Air Lines Flight 902
It would be interesting to simulate such an interception

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_902

Edited April 29, 2024 by GeorgeVB

[GeorgeVB]

Powers' route was also supposed to run over the Kola Peninsula

[zerO_crash]

On 4/29/2024 at 6:21 AM, Raisuli said:

<WAY off topic>

That summer I was on a glorified frigate, but I did prototype at S3G, which represented the only US submarine with a two plant. 

Yeah.  Chernobyl.  I have a story about that one that might be better left untold on these boards.  I still have a (thermal paper) copy of the TMI transients and timeline.  If they had actually known what they were doing they could not possibly have made worse decisions at exactly the wrong time.  Hindsight is perfect, and TMI has more than one meaning.

Of all the nuke boats I've been on only one is more than an entry in the Trench 94 Walk down History Lane, and that's CVN-70.  Oh, I guess CVN-65 hasn't been cut up yet, but I'll bet her reactor compartments end up in trench 94 some day as well.  That poor thing had been de-rated so many times I was a little surprised it could still get the lights lit.

</>

There (used to be) any number of rusting hulks in fjords northwest of Murmansk.  Bellona did a report (have that too) about the disaster that was the Soviet Nuclear Navy up north.  Of COURSE that's the first thing I'm going to check out, even if they didn't model the mess...

S3G, huh?! You sir, sit on some cool piece of knowledge, that's for sure

 

If it wasn't for the fact that it might be crossing some lines (secrets), I'd have opened #nuclear energy topic long ago here. Too many military folks which have experiences that are closer than the story of a friend's friend. Generally, when I'm up at night, it's because I read up on "green" and "energy" - not in the same word I remember reading about a occurrance near Petro (50s) where the dock managed to lower the top lid off a sub reactor four times wrong. Nope, you read it correct, four times, they managed to start the reactor, realising the lid wasn't sealed shut. Three emergency scrams in total, if memory serves. When you read stuff like that, you realize just how cool our forefathers were. Kids roaming nightclubs nowadays have no idea how to party with a boom. It's interesting, to say the least.

 

Hahaha, ouch That is a cool trench though. With the Mars-like surroundings - it's a nice touch. Sadly, I've only seen pictures of the picture though. ChNNP, 3M Island, Dimona, T94, Sayda Bay, +++ - all should be 5 ️ ratings in Michelin guide.

 

Yup, I'm very curious if Orbx models a rusting wreck or two. Besides that, honoring the spot of Kursk will be obligatory. Knock on the gate of Guba Ara. Otherwise, Murmansk, Severomorsk-3, ZEVS, Gremikha (hope to see K-159 which sunk with two nuclear reactors onboard, besides the storage facility), and more.

 

Really hope ED fixes that map size-limit. Would be neat to have an extension eastwards - Sevmash and there around

Edited April 30, 2024 by zerO_crash

[YoYo]

1 hour ago, Northstar98 said:

Stormbirds managed to save a few screenshots: https://stormbirds.blog/2024/04/28/thirty-seconds-of-dcs-kola/

Though the now private video didn't really show us a whole lot.

It is interesting that ORBX Store is also mentioned too however we know this as well - example Heatblur Store.

[bfr]

6 hours ago, YoYo said:

It is interesting that ORBX Store is also mentioned too however we know this as well - example Heatblur Store.

It'll be interesting to see how that pans out in reality. Their store and content delivery works very well with MSFS. I don't know if its possible that they can handle the file management and DCS handles the licence, or if you'll just get served up a DCS licence code after purchase from the Orbx store and then everything from there is handled by DCS' ecosystem.  I guess we'll find out in due course.

[YoYo]

23 minutes ago, bfr said:

It'll be interesting to see how that pans out in reality. Their store and content delivery works very well with MSFS. I don't know if its possible that they can handle the file management and DCS handles the licence, or if you'll just get served up a DCS licence code after purchase from the Orbx store and then everything from there is handled by DCS' ecosystem.  I guess we'll find out in due course.

Perhaps it will work like Heatblur store - so you can buy the product (as code only) but you cant download the files from his store, you have to register this code on ED website on your profile. Im not sure but I think like that.

[bfr]

36 minutes ago, YoYo said:

Perhaps it will work like Heatblur store - so you can buy the product (as code only) but you cant download the files from his store, you have to register this code on ED website on your profile. Im not sure but I think like that.

Although Orbx clearly have the capability to host and deliver that kind of size of content already whereas I don't think Heatblur do. Whether ED want everything under their roof (or can even currently support a mixed environment in the way MSFS works) I don't know, and it might end up that you can choose either source.

[YoYo]

Old picture but good explanation.

[MAXsenna]

Although Orbx clearly have the capability to host and deliver that kind of size of content already whereas I don't think Heatblur do. Whether ED want everything under their roof (or can even currently support a mixed environment in the way MSFS works) I don't know, and it might end up that you can choose either source.

The way ED patches their software, I don't see a third party solution apart from Steam.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[bfr]

35 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

The way ED patches their software, I don't see a third party solution apart from Steam.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

Looking at the Orbx 'coming soon' blurb then it looks like Orbx Direct will handle install/download. https://orbxdirect.com/product/orbx-kola-dcs

[Roy35150]

Sweet lord the map looks Amazing,

The screenshots have me drooling like a kid in a toy store LOL.

A definite must have.

[MAXsenna]

Looking at the Orbx 'coming soon' blurb then it looks like Orbx Direct will handle install/download. https://orbxdirect.com/product/orbx-kola-dcs

That's interesting!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Hipster]

I cannot wait to re-live EF2000...what a difference 30 years makes

 

[unknown]

3 hours ago, bfr said:

Looking at the Orbx 'coming soon' blurb then it looks like Orbx Direct will handle install/download. https://orbxdirect.com/product/orbx-kola-dcs

Looking at this:

"

Note that the DCS: Kola product available on Orbx Direct IS NOT compatible with the STEAM VERSION of DCS World

Prerequisites

Download and install the current version of DCS World from here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/world/

"

I think you will only get an key which you can activate in your DCS profile, just like HB is doing it.

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

So, will the ED store carry this map?

 

Update: read this, a bit concerned

Quote

You will need Orbx Central to download and install this product. Orbx Central runs on Windows 7+, macOS and Linux. An internet connection is also required.

 

Edited May 1, 2024 by VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants

[AdrianL]

9 minutes ago, VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants said:

read this, a bit concerned

It is just from the template as that is how you download products for MSFS. They will remove it

[bfr]

1 hour ago, unknown said:

Looking at this:

"

Note that the DCS: Kola product available on Orbx Direct IS NOT compatible with the STEAM VERSION of DCS World

Prerequisites

Download and install the current version of DCS World from here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/world/

"

I think you will only get an key which you can activate in your DCS profile, just like HB is doing it.

It seems quite specific though about downloading it via Orbx. And DCS as a prerequisite is a given whichever way it works. It does leave more questions than answers though.

- Is it available via Orbx only or will an option to buy/install via ED exist also?

- Is the 'no Steam' thing temporary only?

EDIT: Ah, seen the screenshot from Discord someone posted now.

Edited May 1, 2024 by bfr